Synchronous cutter mechanism

ABSTRACT

Continuous movement is imparted to a chain made up of a plurality of packets which are interconnected in end to end spaced relation by means of a pair of endless conveyor elements disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the chain of packets. Each conveyor is provided with a plurality of packet engaging spacers and with a plurality of positioning bars arranged to engage each packet and to hold it in a predetermined relationship with respect to the conveyor. A rotatable support element is disposed on each side of the path of movement of the packet and a plurality of cutter elements are movably mounted on each support element and a rotatable cam is disposed coaxially with respect to each support element and rotates relative to its associated support element to impart a smooth controlled in and out cutting movement to the associated cutter element each of which is provided with a serrated cutting edge. The cutters separate one packet from another by simultaneously entering the spaces between adjacent packets.

Elite States Patent 1 Johnson [54] SYNCHRONOUS CUTTER MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Roy A. Johnson, Marietta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: The Mead CBrporation, Dayton,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Feb. 23, I971 [2l] Appl.No.: 117,904

[52] US. Cl. ..83/337, 83/339, 83/345, 83/423, 83/155 [51] Int. Cl. ..B26d 1/36, B26d 5/02 [58] Field of Search ..83/337, 371, 420, 423, 339, 83/345, 155

[1 1 3,724,387 51 Apr. 3, 1973 Primary ExaminerWil1ie G. Abercrombie AttorneyWalter M. Rodgers [57] ABSTRACT Continuous movement is imparted to a chain made up of a plurality of packets which are interconnected in end to end spaced relation by means of a pair of endless conveyor elements disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the chain of packets. Each conveyor is provided with a plurality of packet engaging spacers and with a plurality of positioning bars arranged to engage each packet and to hold it in a predetermined relationship with respect to the conveyor. A rotatable support element is disposed on each side of the path of movement of the packet and a plurality of cutter elements are movably mounted on each support element and a rotatable cam is disposed coaxially with respect to each support element and rotates relative to its associated support element to impart a smooth controlled in and out cutting move: ment to the associated cutter element each of which is provided with a serrated cutting edge. The cutters entering the spaces between adjacent packets.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] APR 3 I973 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR ROY A. JON NSON Wm/2 I I flTIO/F/VEY PATENTEDAPR3 197s 3.724.307

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. IQOY A. JOHNSON A T TORNE Y SYNCHRONOUS CUTTER MECHANISM Cutting mechanisms for separating the packets of a continuous chain of packets are known in which elliptical or rotary motion is imparted to the cutter element. Such known devices ordinarily are arranged so that the cutting blade travels in a circular or elliptical path. Such mechanisms are thus not well suited to perform controlled composite motion which is specially adapted to the particular cutting operation. Other types of known cutting mechanisms are of the reciprocal type and generally such mechanisms are of an expensive and heavy duty type of construction adapted to arrest the movement of the heavy and ponderous parts at the end of each operating stroke.

According to this invention a cam controlled cutting operation is provided whereby a pair of oppositely disposed cutter elements are driven toward and away from each other by cams so as to perform a series of cutting operations for a chain of packets disposed therebetween. The cutting elements are of lightweight construction and due to the precision of control effected by the cam mechanism, such devices are well adapted to perform an efficient, versatile cutting operation which leaves the packets with a clean exposed cut edge. Furthermore, since the parts are of compact light weight construction the device is not hazardous in operation either to the associated apparatus or to the operator.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is an overall schematic plan view of a cutter mechanism constructed according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 and which depicts in part the path of travel of the cutter elements and the mechanism by which positioning of the packets relative to a conveyor is effected thereby to insure synchronous operation; FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line designated 3-3 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one cutter unit constructed according to the invention and in which FIG. 5 is a front view of the mechanism depicted in FIG. 4 with portions thereof cut away and shown in section for clarity.

In FIG. 1 the packets designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are mounted on a suitable belt or other conveyor designated by the numeral 6. The packets are moving from left to right as indicated by the arrow 7. Each packet comprises a plurality of primary packages such as cans or bottles designated at C. These packets are enclosed within a sheet of shrink film material which is continuous and the cutter mechanism of this invention is utilized to separate the individual packets one from another following which the individual packets are passed through a heating oven which imparts shrinking action to the film as is well known.

Cutting of the film is effected by a pair of cutter units designated in FIG. 1 by the numerals 8 and 9. These cutter units are rotatable and are cam controlled so as to effect the desired packet severing operation in synchronism with movement of the packets 1-5 inclusive. In order to insure proper positioning of the packets 1-5 for proper synchronism with the operation of the cutter units 8 and 9, conveyor units 10 and 11 are disposed along opposite sides of the path of movement of the packets l-5 and are arranged so that the working reaches 12 and 13 of the conveyors 10 and 11 respectively are disposed immediately adjacent the path of movement of the packets.

In order to interrelate each of the conveyors such as 10 and 11 with the chain of packets l-S inclusive, suitable packet engaging spacers are provided on each of the conveyors. For example, and as is best shown in FIG. 2, packet engaging spacers 14 and 15 are mounted in a suitable manner so as to engage portions of cans C1 and C3 respectively which are a part of packet 5. The packet positioning spacers such as 14 and 15 are not only mounted on conveyor 11 as shown in FIG. 2 but similar spacers are mounted on conveyor 10 and engage primary packages C4 and C6 as schematically indicated at 16 and 17.

In order to insure that the primary packages C1-C6 inclusive are not permitted to move in a transversely outward direction, a plurality of positioning bars such as are designated by the numerals 18, 19 and 20 are affixed to the chain 11 and are positioned therealong in such manner as to engage the cans C1, C2 and C3 respectively as indicated in FIG. 2. On the other side of the packet 5, a plurality of positioning bars 21, 22 and 23 are provided and prevent transverse outward movement of the cans C4, C5 and C6 respectively.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, conveyor 11 in reality comprises an upper chain 11A and a lower chain 118 to which the packet engaging spacer 14 is affixed by means of brackets 24 and 25 in connection with chain 11A and by brackets 26 and 27 in connection with chain 11B. Brackets 24-27 are affixed by pins or other means to the spacer 14.

While conveyor 6 may take any convenient form, one arrangement includes a chain 28 with a guide rail 28A. The chain is provided with brackets 29 and 30 which in turn are secured to support pads 31 and 32. These brackets 29 and 30 are secured to chain 28 and to pads 31 and 32 by pins, brads or by any other known means such as is indicated at 31A.

From the above description, it is apparent that each of the packets 1-5 inclusive is securely captured by the packet engaging spacers such as 14, 15, 16 and 17 and by the positioning bars 18-23 so that each packet is compelled to move in unison with the conveyors such as 10 and 11. For this reason, operating motion of cutting knives may be readily synchronized with the movement of the conveyor chains so as to enable the cutting blades to enter the space between the packets as indicated in dotted lines schematically in the general area designated by the numeral 32 and its associated arrow which as schematically represented in F168. 1 and 2 as the position between packets 3 and 4.

The cutter units designated by the numerals 8 and 9 in FIG. 1 are best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. With reference to these figures, it is apparent that four cutter elements designated by the numerals 33, 34, 35 and 36 are provided with serrated cutting blades 37, 38, 39 and 40 respectively, the cutter blades being serrated as indicated by the numeral 41 in FIG. 5 and being affixed to the associated cutter elements as by pins 42, 43, 44 and 45. As is best shown in FIG. 5 the cutter elements 33-36 are mounted slidably radially in support 46 which in turn is affixed by key 47 and set screw 48 to sleeve 49 which is rotated in such manner as to impart rotary motion to the support 46 and the cutter elements 3336 in a clockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 4 by the arrow 50.

For the purpose of imparting in and out radial motion to the cutter elements 3336 inclusive, a rotatable cam 51 is fixedly mounted on shaft 52 and thus is rotatable therewith. Shaft 52 is disposed within sleeve 49 and held in coaxial relationship with respect thereto by the bearings 53 and 54. Cam 51 is interrelated with the cutter elements 33, 34, 35 and 36 by means of cam slot 55 which is formed in cam 51 and by cam followers 56, 57, 58 and 59 which in turn are securely and fixedly mounted to the cutter elements 3336 respectively and slidable in slots 60-63 respectively formed in support 46. Thus rotation of support 46 relative to cam 51 causes the cutter elements 3336 to move radially in and out due to the variable spacing radially of the cam slot 55 from the shaft 52.

Preferably the sleeve 49 and the associated support 46 and the cutter elements 3336 inclusive are driven by means not shown in such manner that one-fourth of a complete revolution is effected during the time that one packet such as 3 moves, for example, from the position depicted at 3 in FIG. 1 to that depicted by the numeral 4 in FIG. 1. In like fashion the cam 51 is rotated one complete revolution by means not shown during the time that each packet moves from one cutting position to the next cutting position i.e. while the support 46 and associated elements move through 90 degrees. The path followed by the cutter units radially in and out is represented by the dotted lines at 64 in FIG. 2 while the outward movement of cutter 36 is represented by the dotted line positions of the cutter unit 40 as indicated in FIG. 4 at 65. Cutter units 8 and 9 operate in synchronism with each other and with the chain of packets such as 1-5. As is indicated in FIG. 2, it is preferable for the cutting blade such as 36 of unit 9 to move into slight overlapping relationship with respect to the corresponding cutter blade 36 of cutter unit 8 so as to insure a positive severance ofthe film material between adjacent packets.

From the above description it is apparent that the motion of the cutter elements is controlled in a rotary as well as a radial direction in a very precise manner so that effective cutting action is easily achieved. Furthermore the lightweight character of the parts and the controlled movement thereof limits inertia to a minimum and thus tends substantially to reduce wear of the parts and as a result greatly improved durability and reliability of the apparatus are insured.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A synchronous cutter mechanism for separating a chain of moving packets interconnected with each other in spaced end-to-end relation into individual packets, said mechanism comprising a conveyor having a working reach movable along a predetermined path, a plurality of packet engaging spacers affixed to said conveyor and disposed to engage each packet at leading and trailing parts thereof and arranged to hold adjacent packets in spaced relation, a pair of cutter units respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path and each includin a rotatable element, at least one cutter element slida 1y mounted in each rotatable element and radially movable toward and away from the other element in synchronism with movement of said conveyor and of said chain of packets so as to sever said chain between adjacent packets, a rotatable cam adjacent each rotatable element and mounted concentrically therewith, a continuous cam slot formed in each said cam, and a cam follower affixed to each cutter element and extending into the associated said cam slot for imparting reciprocal radial movement to the associated cutter element relative to the associated rotatable element in accordance with the configuration of the cam slot.

2. A cutter according to claim 1 wherein each packet includes a plurality of primary packages and wherein said conveyor is provided with a plurality of positioning bars arranged in two transversely spaced rows on opposite sides of said primary packages, said bars being longitudinally spaced along said conveyor in accordance with the longitudinal spacing of said primary packages and said bars being engageable with said packages respectively so as to prevent transverse outward movement thereof.

a: a: a a: 

1. A synchronous cutter mechanism for separating a chain of moving packets interconnected with each other in spaced end-toend relation into individual packets, said mechanism comprising a conveyor having a working reach movable along a predetermined path, a plurality of packet engaging spacers affixed to said conveyor and disposed to engage each packet at leading and trailing parts thereof and arranged to hold adjacent packets in spaced relation, a pair of cutter units respectively disposed on opposite sides of said path and each including a rotatable element, at least one cutter element slidably mounted in each rotatable element and radially movable toward and away from the other element in synchronism with movement of said conveyor and of said chain of packets so as to sever said chain between adjacent packets, a rotatable cam adjacent each rotatabLe element and mounted concentrically therewith, a continuous cam slot formed in each said cam, and a cam follower affixed to each cutter element and extending into the associated said cam slot for imparting reciprocal radial movement to the associated cutter element relative to the associated rotatable element in accordance with the configuration of the cam slot.
 2. A cutter according to claim 1 wherein each packet includes a plurality of primary packages and wherein said conveyor is provided with a plurality of positioning bars arranged in two transversely spaced rows on opposite sides of said primary packages, said bars being longitudinally spaced along said conveyor in accordance with the longitudinal spacing of said primary packages and said bars being engageable with said packages respectively so as to prevent transverse outward movement thereof. 